Other Prepositions

Definition

(Prepositions of Place, Direction and Prepositions of Time)

Prepositions of place and direction describe the position of a person or thing with respect to the other person or thing.  E.g. – up, above, over etc.  Consider the following sentences using the preposition of place –

• Ram was staying up the hill.
• The books were lying above one another.
• The cake is over the oven.

Preposition of time commonly used are – ‘at’, ‘in’ and ‘on’. Though we are familiar with the use of – ‘at’, ‘in’ and ‘on’, we will just revise a few basic concepts regarding their use.

‘At’ is used wherever there is a need to indicate the precise time, E.g. – ‘at 9:00 A.M.’ or ‘at bedtime’ etc.

‘In’ is used for mentioning the larger periods like – years, months, centuries etc.

For example –

In December, in 10 years from now, in the past century etc.

‘On’ is used to mention dates and days – on the 25^th of December, On Christmas Day, on Sunday etc.

Preposition of Place and Direction: List/Words

On, over, above, in front, beside, under, behind, below, across, along, around, behind, below, towards, between, inside, near, down, off, past, under, close to etc.

Preposition of Time: List/Words

At 3:00 P.M., at dinner time, at lunch time, in January, in a month, in few months, in ten years, on Deepawali, on Christmas, on Wednesday etc.

Exercise 1: MCQs with Answers:

Choose the appropriate prepositions of place and direction from the choices provided below every sentence.

• The Crow was flying ________ the house.
  1. above
  2. below
  3. on
  4. under
• Quickly he ran _________ the tree.
  1. on
  2. over
  3. past
  4. down
• His house is just ________ the road.
  1. past
  2. across
  3. below
  4. towards
• The old man was resting _______ a tree.
  1. over
  2. up
  3. under
  4. on

• The thief was hiding ________ the building.
  1. front of
  2. away
  3. below
  4. behind
• My car is parked _______ the exit gate.
  1. on
  2. over
  3. near
  4. up
• The book I was looking for was lying _________ the table.
  1. below
  2. towards
  3. around
  4. down
• He was sitting _______ his best friend.
  1. under
  2. up
  3. close to
  4. before
• He has to perform _________ of huge audience.
  1. on
  2. above
  3. over
  4. in front
• He had to perform in ________ other performances.
  1. between
  2. inside
  3. behind
  4. along
• The Paraglider bravely jumped _______ the cliff.
  1. between
  2. along
  3. off
  4. below
• The ship sailed _______ the coast.
  1. on
  2. above
  3. along
  4. under
• In case of an earthquake you are advised to hide ________ a strong structure.
  1. over
  2. under
  3. above
  4. up

• After roaming around the building the helicopter came ________.
  1. above
  2. around
  3. down
  4. under
• Please put the vegetables _________ the fridge.
  1. upon
  2. around
  3. over
  4. inside
• His house is _________ the hospital.
  1. beside
  2. along
  3. over
  4. towards
• The chopper was hovering ________ the building.
  1. below
  2. over
  3. up
  4. down
• He was sleeping peacefully _____ the bed.
  1. under
  2. over
  3. on
  4. below
• Everyone was sitting ________ the fire.
  1. towards
  2. above
  3. over
  4. around
• I was walking ________ my home.
  1. towards
  2. away
  3. under
  4. down

Answers – 1)a, 2)c, 3)b, 4)c, 5)d, 6)c, 7)a, 8)c, 9)d, 10)a, 11)c, 12)c, 13)b, 14)c, 15)d, 16)a, 17)b, 18)c, 19)d, 20)a

Exercise-2 with Answers:

Complete the given sentences by filling in appropriate Preposition of Time from the choices provided below –

We will meet for dinner ________.

1. at 9 P.M.
2. on 9 P.M.
3. in 9 P.M.

The fruits of hard work become ripe __________.

1. at years
2. in years
3. on years

The effigy of Ravana is burnt ________.

1. on Dussehra
2. in Deepawali
3. at Dussehra.

We will have a family get together _________.

1. at Christmas
2. in Christmas
3. on Christmas

The meeting is scheduled _________.

1. on 8 AM
2. at 8 AM
3. in 8 AM

The staff chats _________.

1. at lunchtime
2. on lunchtime
3. in lunchtime

I meet my family ________ on occasions.

1. at months
2. in months
3. on months

Indian Independence Day is celebrated _________.

1. in 15^th August
2. at 15^th August
3. on 15^th August

We wear loose clothes ________.

1. at summer
2. in summer
3. on summer

India got independence _______.

1. in 1947
2. at 1947
3. on 1947

Children should get up early ________.

1. at sunrise
2. on sunrise
3. in sunrise

I was gifted a pen by my friends _________.

1. at my birthday
2. in my birthday
3. on my birthday

My birthday falls _______.

1. at 6^th Dec
2. on 6^th Dec
3. in 6^th Dec

Wooly mammoths roamed the earth _________.

1. at the ice age
2. on the ice age
3. in the ice age

My favorite class starts _______.

1. at 7 am
2. in 7 am
3. on 7 am

My favourite show starts _______.

1. on hours
2. at hours
3. in hours

Answers – 1)a, 2)b, 3)a, 4)c, 5)b, 6)a, 7)b, 8)c, 9)b, 10)a, 11)a, 12)c, 13)b, 14)c, 15)a, 16)c

Related Links:

Participle Preposition
Phrase Preposition
Compound Preposition
Double Preposition